98th Oscars live on OTT in India: Here's when and where you can stream, key nominees, and the host – all you need to know about the prestigious awards ceremony
Stream the 98th Oscars on March 16 on JioHotstar. Conan O'Brien hosts as Sinners leads with 16 nods. Features a new Casting award and two nominations for Indian-origin filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir.
Last Updated: 01.21 PM, Mar 05, 2026
The world-famous Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood will host the live 98th Academy Awards, providing Indian audiences with their Oscar fix. March 16, 2026, will see a nationwide streaming of the ceremony that recognises the top cinematic achievements of the previous year. Live coverage of the event will be available to stream on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium), as has been the case for many years.
What is the live streaming schedule for the Red Carpet and Main Ceremony?
Here is the streaming schedule for those who want to witness every second of the glitz and the awards:
Red Carpet: 3:30 AM IST (March 16)
Main Ceremony: 5:30 AM IST (March 16)
After the event streams live on JioHotstar, fans who were unable to catch it in the wee hours of the morning can watch it again as a VOD (Video on Demand).
Who is returning to host and produce the Oscars this year?
Comedian and late-night TV veteran Conan O'Brien, who won an Emmy® for his performance at the 97th edition, will be hosting the Oscars for the second year in a row. With his comeback, the Academy enters a new era of stability; executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan are back for their third year in a row to run the show.
Ryan Coogler's Sinners is breaking records, making the 98th Academy Awards an unforgettable event. With 16 nominations, the film has more than any other picture in Oscar history, even surpassing La La Land and Titanic in terms of nominations.
Which other movies are leading the race for Oscar gold?
The following films also have a good shot at winning: One Battle After Another with 13 nominations, Frankenstein with nine, Marty Supreme with nine, Sentimental Value with nine, and Hamnet with eight.
The Best Casting category has been introduced this year, which is a major milestone. In honour of the casting directors, the Academy has introduced a new competition category for the first time since 2001.
Which Indian-origin filmmaker has secured multiple nominations this year?
Even though Homebound, India's official entry, did not make it to the Best International Feature Film shortlist, Indian cinema fans are nonetheless quite interested in the 98th Academy Awards. Geeta Gandbhir, a filmmaker of Indian descent, broke new ground with her two nominations: The Perfect Neighbor for Best Documentary Feature and The Devil is Busy for Best Documentary Short.
In addition, Wagner Moura is the first Brazilian to receive a nomination for Lead Actor, and Timothée Chalamet, who is 30 years old, has been the youngest actor to receive three nods for acting.
Where can viewers find the highest quality stream of the Oscars?
Watch the red carpet and main event in stunning HD on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium), where viewers may tune in live.
There will be both familiar and new names among the 98th Oscar nominations, so the international film community can look forward to an evening of historic victories and speeches.
98th Oscars FAQs:
Q: What time does the 98th Oscars start in India?
A: The 98th Academy Awards will begin with the Red Carpet at 3:30 AM IST on Monday, March 16, 2026. The main Award Ceremony will follow at 5:30 AM IST, on JioHotstar (OTTplay Premium).
Q: Who is hosting the 98th Academy Awards?
A: Emmy® Award-winning comedian and late-night veteran Conan O’Brien is returning to host the Oscars for the second consecutive year. His return follows a critically acclaimed performance at the 97th Oscars in 2025.
Q: Which movie has the most nominations at the 2026 Oscars?